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Since Chicago Fire‘s pilot episode, it’s been clear that Peter Mills’ dream is to follow in his father’s footsteps and work as a member of Rescue Squad. He lived that dream for a short time—until a pesky form of vertigo forced him off firefighting duty and onto the ambo. Last week, however, Mills made it clear that he had grand plans to gain medical clearance and reclaim his spot on Squad 3; he would not be stopped.

Unfortunately for Mills, medical clearance or not, there may not be a spot on Squad left to reclaim.

At the top of “Forgive You Anything,” Mills proves his drive to rejoin the firefighters during a call to a collapsed parking garage. When Severide hops inside a van trapped by debris to save the driver before he’s crushed (typical Severide, amirite?), Mills is right behind him—that is, until Severide stops Mills from putting himself in danger and requests that Capp help instead.

Back at the house, Mills overhears talk about Scott Rice (Warren Christie), Severide’s firefighter friend from high school who, thanks to Severide, will be taking a trial run at that coveted spot on Squad 3. Rice has been on the sidelines for some time and finally worked up the nerve to ask Severide for help getting back to work.

Mills takes the snuff hard—that’s his spot—but is not discouraged from his pursuit to rejoin Squad, and he lets Boden know as much. Mills wants that spot left open until his doctor appointment later that week. He’s a man on a mission, people! Get out of his way!

Meanwhile, rumors are flying around the house about Scott Rice. Capp recalls a guy who loves to hog the spotlight, and Otis has heard stories of his less-than-stellar conduct (e.g., homeboy threw a dude out of a third-story window). When Rice finally shows up to join the handsome firefighter club, he immediately busts out into an outrageous story, proving Capp right. It begs the question: Are the rumors Otis heard true, as well?

Turns out Otis’ sources are not the most credible—and Casey quickly shuts the intel down as gossip. He eventually asks Severide for the real story behind Rice’s incident, and Sev explains that Rice was defending himself against a crazy meth-head.

You know who’s still weary of Rice lurking around 51? Peter Mills. But before long, Ambo 61 and Squad 3 have to join forces to make a rescue at the Chicago Theatre. Mills and Brett arrive first to find a man with a head injury dangling from the catwalk. Mills decides to do possibly the worst thing a paramedic with vertigo can do, and climbs the insanely tall ladder up to rescue the victim on his own. Smart? No. Sexy? Yes, sir.

Mills makes the climb with no problem and begins to work on the victim, just as Severide arrives to ask the question we’re all thinking: What the hell, Mills? In the end, Mills is just pumped that he felt absolutely no dizziness—he’s convinced he’s cured.

This small victory prompts Mills to confront Severide. Mills wants that spot on Squad; he’s earned it. Severide warns Mills to take the recklessness down a notch and informs him that Rice needs that job. But we all know Mills needs that job, too.

Finally, FINALLY, Mills heads to the doctor. Unfortunately, he does not get the quick go-ahead he was hoping for. Instead, the doctor explains that he’ll have to undergo a series of tests and wait at least a week. If there is even the slightest trace of something wrong, he won’t be cleared. Le sigh.

This is promising for Rice, who, as it turns out, is every bit the good guy Severide claims he is. Through Boden, we learn Rice’s wife had died the week before the “incident” and left him with a young son. Severide wasn’t lying—Rice really does need this job.

Rice isn’t the only blast from Severide’s past. Severide’s old friend, April Sexton (Yaya DaCosta), is working at Chicago Med now. Severide really perks up at the mention of her name and swings by the hospital in hopes of reconnecting. April wants no part of it, letting Severide know that he was a terrible friend. Ouch.

Later, Kelly dives into his little box of high school memories and finds an envelope with two ticket stubs to Eminem’s Slim Shady tour. Severide brings the tickets to the hospital as proof that he was a great friend to April—he only went to that concert for her. Somehow reminiscing about Marshall Mathers softens April. Ah-ha! You can’t resist the charms of Kelly Severide for too long, can you? It’s okay: NO ONE CAN.

The two have an enigmatic exchange about her parents—and how Kelly never got to thank them, or April for that matter. It seems all is forgiven, but it’s all VERY mysterious. To the spin-off, I guess?

From the Firehouse 51 Bulletin Board:

Emmett was only checking up on Mouch for his little sister Lizzy, who, as it turns out, is Mouch’s biological daughter (and Christian Stolte’s!). After another pep talk from Queen Trudy, Mouch meets his daughter, and it is every bit as lovely as we all had hoped.

It’s not the way I pictured watching Matt Casey in a strip club, but close enough. Our lieutenant picked up a construction job at former firefighter Tom Nesbitt’s (Why, hello, Eric Mabius!) high-end establishment. I’m guessing no good can come from this development.

After a girl’s night out with Dawson, Brett realizes that she ditched one complacent relationship back in Indiana for another in Chicago. She adores Cruz but she’s not looking to waste away on a couch with another guy. Pilsen should prepare for the most depressing Zumba class in history.

Expression Of JoyThe Brady Bunch: Groovy! The Bradys: Ritual hugging Married…With Children: ”Oh, great.” Thirtysomething: ”Of course I’m happy for you. Really. But what about me? Why does it always have to be about you? The Flintstones: ”Yabba-dabba doo

Expression Of Rage

The Brady Bunch: ”Hmmm…” The Bradys: ”If you back away from something you really want, then you’re a quitter!” (the angriest any Brady has ever been) Married…With Children: ”Aaagh, God, take me from this miserable life!” Thirtysomething: ”I’m not angry, OK?” The Flintstones: ”Willllmaaaa!”

Typical ProblemThe Brady Bunch: Marcia and her rival both want to be the prom queen. The Bradys: Bobby gets paralyzed. Married…With Children: Al doesn’t buy his family Christmas presents. Thirtysomething: Nancy gets cancer. The Flintstones: Fred and Barney are staying out too late.

Typical SolutionThe Brady Bunch: The prom committee decides to have two queens. The Bradys: Bobby gets married. Married…With Children: They hate him. Thirtysomething: If only we knew… The Flintstones: Wilma and Betty decide to follow them.

Attitude Toward SexThe Brady Bunch: Never heard of it The Bradys: Omigod — even Cindy does it! Married…With Children: Peg: Yes. Al: No. Thirtysomething: They didn’t get all those kids by accident. The Flintstones: Prehistoric

How Spouses FightThe Brady Bunch: They don’t. The Bradys: Infrequently, but it happens Married…With Children: Tooth and nail Thirtysomething: They stop talking The Flintstones: Fred and Barney go bowling while Wilma and Betty max out their charge cards.

How Kids Get Into TroubleThe Brady Bunch: Greg takes a puff of a cigarette. The Bradys: Carol’s grandson steals her business cards and sticks them in the spokes of Bobby’s wheelchair. Married…With Children: By committing felonies Thirtysomething: Ethan plays with a forbidden toy rocket. The Flintstones: They don’t.

How They’re Punished

The Brady Bunch: ”It’s not what you did, honey — it’s that you couldn’t come to us.” The Bradys ”Next time, ask.” Married…With Children: By the authorities Thirtysomething: It blows up in his face. The Flintstones: They’re not.

What Family Does For FunThe Brady Bunch: Takes special three-part vacations to Hawaii and the Grand Canyon The Bradys: Has flashbacks Married…With Children: Exchanges insults Thirtysomething: Talks The Flintstones: Attends showings of The Monster at the Bedrock Drive-In

Unsolved MysteriesThe Brady Bunch: How exactly did Carol’s first husband and Mike’s first wife die? The Bradys: What’s with Marcia’s new face and Bobby’s blonde hair Married…With Children: What kind of hair spray does Peg use? Thirtysomething: Why did Nancy take Elliot back? What do Gary and Susanna see in each other? The Flintstones: How does Barney’s shirt stay on if he has no shoulders? Where do Fred and Wilma plug in their TV?

Worst BehaviorThe Brady Bunch: The Brady children once made Alice feel under-appreciated.

Best Reason To WatchThe Brady Bunch: This is what life should be. The Bradys: They’re all grown-ups now! Married…With Children: Terry Rakolta hates it. Thirtysomething (Tie) This is your life. This isn’t your life. The Flintstones: This is what life might have been.

Best Reason Not To WatchThe Brady Bunch: Blurred vision from rerun overdoses. The Bradys: You’re all grown-ups now. Married…With Children: She has a point. Thirtysomething: After a while, you think it’s real. The Flintstones: The Simpsons